Master: This Villainous Disciple Is Not The Holy Child

A few hours later, in a dense forest…

Chu Xiu, casually gathering spirit herbs, took a bite of a fruit, its sweet and sour juice dripping from his chin.

“Oh? Senior Brother Chu Xiu? Fancy meeting you here!” A surprised voice called out.

Chu Xiu turned to see a group of five approaching – four men and one woman, all inner disciples at the Divine Bridge realm. The leader, a tall, muscular man, had reached the eighth level.

Chen Mofan, a large black hammer strapped to his back, glanced around, a friendly smile on his face. “Senior Brother, are you alone?”

Chu Xiu took a step back, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Are you here to kill me too?”

‘Suppress your killing intent!’ Chen Mofan transmitted to his companions. ‘Don’t let him see it. He cultivates a powerful movement technique. If he wants to escape, we can’t stop him. We need to stall him until the others arrive.’

‘Understood, Brother Chen.’

‘Right on, Brother Chen.’

Chen Mofan feigned surprise. “Senior Brother Chu Xiu, what are you talking about? Killing fellow disciples is a grave offense!”

“Yes, Senior Brother, there must be some misunderstanding,” a delicate-looking woman said, stepping forward with a concerned expression. “Is someone chasing you? How dare they attack a true disciple!”

“Tell us who they are. Perhaps we can help.” She spoke with gentle concern, a picture of innocence and goodwill.

Chu Xiu’s expression softened slightly, but his eyes remained wary. He sighed. “I don’t know who they are exactly. There seem to be quite a few of them…”

“Senior Brother, why don’t you join our group?” Chen Mofan suggested. “If those pursuers catch up, we can lend you a hand.”

The others chimed in, offering their support, their voices filled with false sincerity. They were putting on quite a performance.

Chu Xiu’s furrowed brow relaxed. He smiled and cupped his fist. “Thank you, Junior Brothers and Sisters. I appreciate your offer.”

“But… I think I’ll pass.” His face clouded with worry. “I wouldn’t want to put you in danger. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to you.”

Chen Mofan’s eyes flickered with amusement.

‘This isn’t like the rumors… he’s not the ruthless killer they described… He’s… nice. Almost too nice…’ the woman transmitted, a hint of mockery in her voice.

‘Yeah, worried about our safety? What a joke!’

‘He has no idea we’re among those chasing him. Hilarious!’

‘Well, we are putting on quite a show…’

“Ahem.” Chen Mofan coughed, interrupting their mental chatter. He addressed Chu Xiu, his voice filled with respect. “Senior Brother, you’re a genius who broke through the Primordial Limit! You’re the future of our Tai Su Holy Land! We are expendable, but you… you mustn’t be harmed!”

“Please, Senior Brother… let us stay and protect you!”

The others echoed his plea, their expressions earnest and sincere.

Chu Xiu seemed deeply moved by their words. He stepped forward, his voice trembling with emotion.

“Such loyalty… such selflessness… I… I don’t know what to say… I’m humbled…”

Chen Mofan and the others exchanged glances, their eyes flickering with amusement.

“Very well,” Chu Xiu said, as if making a difficult decision. “I accept your offer.”

“You don’t have to do this, Senior Brother. We’re all family here in the Holy Land.” Chen Mofan’s eyes glistened with fake tears, his performance worthy of an award.

Chu Xiu nodded repeatedly, then sat down against the massive roots of an ancient tree, pulling out some wine and roasted meat. “Come, join me.”

They gathered around him.

Chu Xiu poured them each a cup of wine.

Chen Mofan and the others, however, hesitated, their hands hovering over the cups. They were cautious, suspicious.

Chu Xiu, unfazed, raised his own cup and drained it in one gulp. He then tore off a chunk of roasted lamb, its golden-brown skin glistening with fat, its aroma filling the air, and devoured it with gusto.

Seeing their hesitation, he asked, “Why aren’t you eating? Don’t be shy. Try my cooking.” He poured himself another cup and drank it, then added with a friendly smile, “It’s quite good, if I do say so myself.”

One of the disciples, his face covered in pockmarks, couldn’t resist the tempting aroma any longer. He swallowed hard, his stomach rumbling.

‘He’s eating it… it can’t be poisoned, can it?’

He took a sip of the wine.

His eyes widened. “Excellent wine!”

“Indeed. It’s from Master’s private collection. I… borrowed… it,” Chu Xiu said with a wink.

Seeing that his companion was unharmed, Chen Mofan relaxed slightly. He and the others, encouraged by Chu Xiu’s continued hospitality, began to eat and drink, careful not to reveal their true intentions.

“Did you roast this meat yourself, Senior Brother? It’s delicious!”

“I did. Have some more. There’s plenty,” Chu Xiu replied with a warm smile.

The six of them ate, drank, and chatted, their conversation flowing smoothly, their acting impeccable.

An hour later…

Chu Xiu wiped his mouth with a cloth, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

“So…” he began, his voice casual, his gaze sweeping over the five disciples, “how much did Xiao Yifeng and Jian Lingyun promise you… to kill me?”

Chen Mofan’s eyes narrowed. He grabbed his massive hammer and swung it at Chu Xiu.

Chu Xiu, activating the Xing Secret Technique, vanished, reappearing a hundred meters away, perched on the branch of a giant tree.

The hammer slammed into the ground where he had been sitting, creating a crater half a meter deep.

The other four disciples, their faces grim, surrounded the tree.

“When… when did you know?” Chen Mofan asked, his voice cold.

“The moment you arrived,” Chu Xiu replied, his smile unwavering.

“We didn’t reveal anything… did we?”

“Your performance was… flawless. A little too enthusiastic, perhaps.” Chu Xiu’s gaze swept over the four disciples who were now trying to climb the tree, their movements sluggish. “Take a look inside your Sea of Qi. Check your Divine Bridges.”

Their faces paled as they followed his instructions.

A black mist was swirling within their Sea of Qi, slowly but surely corrupting their energy.

“You… you poisoned the wine?!” the woman shrieked, her face contorted in horror.

Chu Xiu chuckled, shaking his head. “There was no wine in the poison.”

[Gahahaha! That’s right! Our poison is 100% pure, no fillers!]

Chen Mofan’s face darkened. “You… you mean… what we were drinking… it was all poison?”

“Indeed,” Chu Xiu confirmed, his smile widening. “My special blend. The Forget Worry Poison. It tastes… remarkably similar to aged wine. Enjoyable, wasn’t it?”

Chen Mofan felt a tingling sensation spreading through his body, his movements slowing, his control over his true essence fading.

‘He’s… he’s poisoned us…’

“You… you sly fox! You treacherous bastard!” The pockmarked disciple’s eyes burned with fury, his body trembling with rage. He lunged towards Chu Xiu, ready to attack, consequences be damned.

“Would you like to live?” Chu Xiu asked calmly, interrupting the disciple’s desperate charge. “I’m feeling… generous. I can give you… a chance.”

“In fifteen minutes, without the antidote, your bodies will dissolve into a bloody mess. You’ll experience the exquisite agony of a thousand ants devouring you from the inside out.”

His words sent a chill down their spines.

It didn’t even take fifteen minutes.

The pockmarked disciple clutched at his chest, his face pale, his body convulsing as a searing pain erupted in his heart. He felt as if something was tearing him apart from the inside.

“What do you want?” Chen Mofan asked, his voice cold, his eyes narrowed.

“You’re a smart man, Junior Brother Chen.” Chu Xiu smiled, tossing him a scroll. “Follow the instructions. There are ten antidote pills inside – enough to keep you alive for three days. Succeed, and I’ll give you the permanent cure.”

“How… how do we know you’ll keep your word?” the woman asked, her voice trembling, the poison beginning to take hold.

Chu Xiu raised his hand, his face solemn, his voice ringing with conviction. “I swear on my master’s reputation. If I, Chu Xiu, go back on my word, may the heavens curse her, preventing her cultivation from ever advancing.”

It was a powerful oath, invoking the wrath of the heavens upon his master should he break his promise.

Chen Mofan and the others exchanged glances. They nodded, accepting the oath.

“We’ll do it.”

“You better keep your word.”

“My word is my bond, Junior Brothers and Sisters.” Chu Xiu’s smile returned, his voice gentle and reassuring.

“I await your good news.”

He stood, activated the Xing Secret Technique, and vanished.